Species Disclaimer: There has been some confusion in the hobby because Grammostola quirogai may have been imported as misidentified Grammostola pulchra over the past few decades.

The only ways to truly distinguish the two nearly identical species is by the mature male’s tibial hooks or through a DNA sequence.

Whether they are pulchra or quirogai, these are the same big, black, beautiful and gentle natured Brazilian Black Tarantulas that have become so beloved in the hobby.

Defining Characteristics:

• Grammostola pulchra have a slow growth rate
• Since this species has poor eyesight, they hunt by using their specialized “hairs” to feel vibrations in their environment
• As an adult, this species is bold and usually visible in its habitat

Name: Grammostola pulchra is also commonly known as the Brazilian Black Tarantula.

Recommended Enclosure Size & Setup: Grammostola pulchra is a terrestrial species. Surface area of the enclosure should be no less than two times the spider's diagonal leg span in one direction and three times the diagonal leg span in the other.

The enclosure should be tall enough to accommodate 2-3 inches of substrate for slings and 4+ inches for adults. ABG mix, coco cradle, and Dig-It are all good substrate options for this species, but our Pet Bug Team prefers ABG all the way!

We recommend against allowing your terrestrial spider more than two times their diagonal leg span as head space above their substrate, as a fall from any higher could result in serious injury.

Want to spice up your enclosure with live plants? Our experts have curated kits of easy-to-care-for and SAFE plants for your tarantula. Check them out here!

Temperature (°F): This species thrives in the mid 70s to low 80s, so a temperature of 75 degrees is ideal. Temperatures regularly dipping below 65 or spiking above 85 degrees should be avoided.

A thermometer is recommended to keep an eye on temperatures in the enclosure.

Humidity: These spiders thrive in a moderately humid environment, so the recommended ambient humidity should stay between 50% and 60%. This can be achieved by making sure the substrate is always slightly moistened with at least 1 dry corner for the animal to go. Depending on your location, you may need tools such as a humidifier to achieve this environment. A hygrometer is a great way to monitor the humidity for your animal and see if you need to make any adjustments to your husbandry.

The enclosure sides and décor should be spritzed lightly around 2 times a week to provide your spiderling droplets to drink from and to keep humidity up, but do not spray your spider directly.

Size: At the time of sale, this animal will be at least 2 inches. Females can grow to be up to 8 inches, and typically the males are a bit smaller.

We use diagonal leg span to measure our spiders.

Age: Before making this species available to our customers, we ensure that they are well-established. This means our spiders are generally molted to a minimum of third instar and will have hatched two to three months prior to being listed for sale.

For spiders that we have not produced in house, we like to get two to three solid feedings in as well as the aforementioned minimums. They go through a 2 week minimum quarantine process to ensure the health of the animal.

For this species, the average lifespan is 6-8 years in males, and 20 years in females when provided an adequate environment.

Feeding: These spiders are currently eating two to three 1/2 inch crickets, once a week. There are a variety of appropriate prey items that you can offer, such as roaches, waxworms, black soldier fly larvae, hornworms, and silkworms. Consider feeding your prey items with our gutload formula to give your pet well-rounded nutrition.

We recommend that the prey items not be much longer than the tarantula's “head” is wide. Larvae are an exception—our larvae are harmless. Since they are very high in fat, they're not the best staple diet, however they make a great weight gain supplement.

Remove uneaten prey items after 24 hours, these may stress your animal out or endanger the spider during molting. Never attempt to feed a freshly molted tarantula less than a week after their molt to prevent injury to the spider. Depending on its age, the hardening process could take anywhere from 48 hours all the way up to a week.

Sexing: Due to their age, Grammostola pulchra sold by Josh’s Frogs are unsexed. 

Coloration/Patterning: As spiderlings, Grammostola pulchra can fluctuate between a brown and black coloration throughout their body. After a molt, they may appear even a light brown. As they mature, their entire body becomes a velvety jet black. This stunning silky look has made them a favorite in the hobby for many years.

Social Behavior: Grammostola pulchra is not a sociable animal and should be housed as an individual. Attempts at cohabitation will likely result in cannibalism.

Natural Range: Grammostola pulchra are native to Brazil.

Links of Interest:

• Arachnoboards: a community of spider enthusiasts that will be able to or have already answered almost any question you can think of with regards to tarantulas.

Still not sure if Grammostola pulchra from Josh's Frogs is the right pet bug for you? Read the reviews below and see what other customers are saying!